Jim Pugel: A classy exit after a Mayor’s classless treatment

Ex-Interim Seattle Police Chief Jim Pugel has chosen to retire with a letter filled with affection for the SPD and public service, despite being ousted by Mayor Ed Murray and exiled to an office on Airport Way S. by the man Murray picked to take his place.

Pugel is traveling, but left a letter, and took time last week to defend the need for police discipline in a letter to the Seattle City Council.

The letter defines what it means to be “Seattle’s Finest”:

“I joined the police department as a reserve officer when I was a student at the University of Washington. Since then I have had the honor of serving units in all of the precincts, in scores of different units and under some amazing commanders as well as with incredible community members and elected officials.

“I have looked forward to going to work every day because of the unique challenges we face at every level, regardless of our assignments. Serving the city of Seattle and its people is something that I will — and all of you should — always be proud of.”

Pugel provided a capsule history of high (and low) points in policing over his 31 years of service.

Thirty years ago, he busted Seattle’s first crack house along with then-officer Clark Kimerer. Kimmerer is one of three assistant chief of police to retire since Murray took office.

“I will always remember being assigned as the West Precinct commander seven months before what was initially described to me as ‘a small international trade fair called WTO’,” he mused. “The way the sworn and civilian members of the SPD performed that week under the most trying of circumstances, and the way the people of Seattle took care of you during that trying event, still makes me proud.”

Pugel is additionally proud of the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Division (LEAD), which has given non-violent drug dealers and users the option of entering into treatment rather than undergoing prosecution.

In Pugel’s words, LEAD is “a worldwide model on how to deal with the issues of low-level, non-violent drug use, subsistence level sales and addiction.” Pugel delivered additional words of praise for officers of the Sexual Assault Unit, which he headed.

He even gives out a shout to Interim Chief Harry Bailey, under whom Pugel was given an option of retiring as assistant chief or accept demotion to captain.

It is a classic example of turning the other cheek — almost.

On close terms with the Seattle Police Officers Guild, the Murray-Bailey regime at SPD has erased misconduct findings against seven Seattle Police officers. The most controversial was the case of an officer who threatened Dominic Holden, news editor at “The Stranger,” that he would come to the newspaper’s offices and harass Holden.

Responding to Councilman Nick Licata’s office, Pugel defended the SPD’s Office of Professional Accountability, its findings of misconduct, and the value of police discipline.

“Certainly the disciplinary process is not the only means of transmitting values, but it is an important one,” he wrote. “I was never provided with any reasonable justification to reverse final disciplinary decisions.”

“Once a decision is reached, discipline should not bartered away without a clear justification that enhances standards of accountability, professionalism and fairness,” he added.

A different attitude seems to have taken hold since the Murray-Bailey regime took office. It’s perhaps best defined by Bernard Melekian, a former Pasadena, Calif., police chief who is advising the Mayor. Melekian recently wrote to the Council:

“At this point in the process, the issue is not about the alleged facts or the imposed discipline. These issues have been resolved. Rather, the issue is a legal/business decision as to whether it is worth expending time and money to battle a particular case.”

In other words, no.

Jim Pugel is only 54, a Seattle native and former UW rower. He was coy about future intentions, saying only that he will be working “in other areas of improving how police services are delivered.”

As to his parting words, Pugel quoted a famous 1831 maxim of Sir Robert Peel:

“Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being the only members of the public who are paid to give full time and attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the existence of community welfare and its existence.”

Here’s hoping this man finds a way to continue serving the citizens of Seattle.